"What kind of Plant Senior Sister?" Han Yu asked, feeling curious.

"Not here, let's go somewhere a bit more private." Xuan Qing said, making Han Yu nod.

Han Yu and Xuan Qing had stepped away from the lively campfires where disciples gathered in groups, trading stories and keeping their nerves at bay before the coming trials. The two of them walked a little further into the shadows of an empty storage tent at the back of the camp.

It was quiet here, broken only by the distant chirping of insects and the occasional flicker of spiritual light from the wards laid by the elders.

Xuan Qing was the first to speak.

Her voice was steady, but it carried a faint excitement beneath the calm surface. "An elder of the Jade Mirror sect discovered an unusual plant."

Han Yu tilted his head. "Unusual in what sense?" He tried to sound casual, though inside, he was immediately alert. If Xuan Qing was paying attention to it, it had to be something rare or valuable.

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "It was a plant. Not an ordinary herb, but something far rarer. They called it the Dual Circle Ascension Vine."

Han Yu furrowed his brow.

The name stirred something faint in his memory, but it was little more than a vague impression. "Dual Circle Ascension Vine…" he muttered under his breath, trying to recall the scattered lessons from his alchemy studies.

He remembered reading something about vines bearing fruits that were used in pill refinement, but beyond that, the details eluded him. Despite his solid scores in the alchemy exam, there were simply too many herbs to commit to memory, and this one had clearly not been among the common entries.

"What exactly makes it special?" he asked finally, conceding that he could not place it.

Xuan Qing smiled faintly, as though she had been expecting that very question. "The vine produces fruits, known as Dual Circle Ascension Fruits. They're unique because they can enhance a cultivator's aptitude.

Not by a great margin, but enough to make a difference, especially for those who were born with lower aptitude. For some, it could be the difference between stagnating at a bottleneck and reaching the next stage."

Han Yu's eyes sharpened slightly. Anything that could touch aptitude, even slightly, was a treasure that could spark bloodshed.

She continued before he could speak. "That is not all. The fruits also serve as a primary ingredient in a very rare Core Condensation realm pill, the Glassy Core Refinement Pill. This pill can improve the quality of a cultivator's core, making it sturdier and more refined.

Even a single fruit is enough to make one pill. An entire vine, which can bear multiple fruits over the span of a year, is worth far more than most people can calculate."

Han Yu blinked, momentarily stunned. "A pill that can improve the quality of a core…" He let out a low breath. "No wonder. That explains why I didn't recall it properly. I haven't studied many Core Condensation pills yet. I know of the common ones, but not the rare formulas. My level wouldn't allow me to refine them anyway."

"Exactly," Xuan Qing nodded softly. "It isn't knowledge widely taught to disciples who have yet to reach that stage. Most of them are too far from condensing our core for it to matter. But for elders and higher-level alchemists, it is something they would guard jealously."

Han Yu crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "And this vine was found here, of all places? In the ruins of the outer complexes?"

"That's right," Xuan Qing replied. "The elder who spotted it didn't dare collect it right away. The area was still unsafe, and the vine was growing across a section of broken stone walls. According to what my friend told me, it looked perfectly healthy, as if it had thrived here for many years."

"That means its medicinal potency must be extraordinary," Han Yu said quietly. "Any herb that survives in a place like this… it won't be ordinary at all."

Xuan Qing's gaze flickered, and she gave a small smile. "You understand, then. If the existence of this vine becomes common knowledge, every sect here will fight for it. For now, only a handful of Jade Mirror Temple's elders and their closest followers are aware. But secrets like this never stay hidden for long."

Han Yu's lips curved into a wry smile. "So you're telling me this because you want me to keep it to myself, is that it?"

Xuan Qing gave him a long, steady look, her eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Yes. Don't mention it to anyone, not even your closest friends. I'm only telling you because I trust that you can see the bigger picture.

You're not someone who would run off and shout about treasures without thinking of the consequences. Plus if I do obtain it, I'd need someone trusted to make the pill." She added

Han Yu felt a flicker of pride at her words, though he kept his tone even. "I'll respect that. But you've made me curious. What are you planning, Senior Sister? You wouldn't have brought this up unless you were considering something."

She gave a soft laugh, though it was tinged with mystery. "All I'm saying is that opportunities come and go. Once the outer complexes are opened for exploration, the disciples will be allowed to roam more freely. When that time comes, keep your eyes open. If fate favors you, perhaps you'll see the vine yourself."

"Do you know which complex it is in, exactly?" Han Yu asked as there were far too many complexes and buildings in the tomb's compound.

Plus they knew that majority of the complex actually extended underground, so there was no telling how big the total area of the tomb was.

"No. Even the other disciples don't know. I think they'll only be told by the Elder when the tomb opens up, so we'll have to figure it out on our own." Xuan Qing stated.